Fox News Airs Partial Coverage Of NRA Press Conference

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Fox News did not air as much of the highly anticipated NRA press conference that took place one week after the tragic Sandy Hook shootings in Newtown, Conn as CNN and MSNBC. CNN aired the NRA press conference in its entirety, while MSNBC cut away a few minutes early (see update below).

In an unprecedented move, the NRA stayed silent after the devastating Newtown shootings for one week, citing respect for the victims and families. The NRA took its Facebook page and Twitter account offline immediately after the shootings, but reinstated its social media presence shortly thereafter. The association later announced that it would hold a press conference to address the Sandy Hook shootings.

The press conference was scheduled for 10:45 a.m. Friday morning, but was delayed 15 minutes. Both MSNBC and CNN cut to the NRA press conference when it began at 11:00 a.m., but Fox News did not immediately interrupt its programming. The network cut into the press conference about 5 minutes late but in time for NRA President Wayne LaPierre's comments. The network then cut away from the press conference early, as former U.S. Congressman Asa Hutchinson discussed the NRA's proposed National Model School Shield Program. MSNBC cut away after Fox News but during Hutchinson's comments as well.

Earlier this week, New York Magazine's Gabe Sherman reported that Fox News executives squelched discussion of gun control on the network's air. Some network employees disputed Sherman's report, but the New York magazine editor stood by his report.

Sherman attributed the network's coverage of the NRA press conference to his earlier report:

Correction: Friday, 12:44 p.m. This post has been updated to reflect that MSNBC did not air the NRA press conference in its entirety as this post originally stated. The network cut away after Fox News but before Hutchinson completed his remarks.